Detachable handle and spring-catch



(No Model.)

G. B. EPSTEIN. DETAGHABLE HANDLE AND S PRING GATGH-. No. 458,105.

Patented Aug. 18, 1891.

ml. mm: 111mm, WW mum-on; a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. EPSTEIN, OF SAL ANTONIO, TEXAS.

DETACHABLE HANDLE AND SPRING-CATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,105, dated August 18, 1891.

Application filed April '7, 1891. $erial No. 387,908- (No model.)

' citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Handles and Spring-Catches for Valises, &c.; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention hasrelation toimprovements in detachable handles and spring-catches for valises, Satchels, traveling-bags, and the like; and it has for its objects to provide a handle which may be readily detached from the va lise, and devices for automatically engaging and locking the handle to the valise when said handle is replaced.

A further object of the invention is to render the handle capable of attachment to a certain character or style of valise, so that the handle of one valise cannot be replaced by another, whereby the owner of a valise removing his handle cannot by mistake apply it to any other than his own, thus savingaloss and confusion which would naturally arise by adapting one handle for attachment to various valises.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and claims, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lock-case, showing my improvements applied and a handle in position. Fig. 2 is a side View of one of the handle-connecting blocks, and Fig. 3 is aperspective View of one of the lock-bolts.

Referring by letter to said drawings, A indicates the lock-casing, which may be formed from cast-iron or other suitable material. This casing may be secured to the metal frame of the valise at the usualpoint in any suitable manner, although I prefer, for the sake of cheapness and simplicity, to secure it by means of rivets or the like passing through holes a in the base-plate and through end extensions, as shown.

Arranged within the casing A and near opposite ends thereof is a spring-actuated slidebolt 13. These bolts have their inner or adcured in position within the casing, and the" latter construction is preferable. The bolts B, which have their bearings in the plates D i and e, carry a thumb-lever E, which is fixed at its inner end to said bolts, and passes through a slot f in the top plate of the lockcasing, a plate g being used and secured to the thumb-levers, so as to cover said slots f. The outer ends of the lock-bolts are of an angular form, as will be better seen by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, and the blocks or studs carried by the handle have slots to correspond with the shape of said lock-bolts, as will be better seen by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings. It is obvious that the shape of the slots in the studs or blocks, and also the shape of the lock-bolts, must be varied, and I design making these parts of such shapes or variations that a handle can be applied to but one valise. It is obvious that the thumb-levers might be made in different forms.

F indicates the studs or blocks, which are pivotally connected to the handle, as will be presently explained. These blocks,which are also formed of metal and carry the receivingslot h for the lock-bolts, are beveled on their inner adjacent sides, as shown at c', and the striking or outer ends of the bolts B are also beveled, as shown at It, so as to facilitate the insertion of said blocks and insure a quick action of the locking-bolts. The casing A is slottedin its upper side near opposite ends, as shown at H, to receive the studs or blocks F.

While I do not wish to confine myself to any particular make or style of handle, yet I prefer to form the handle from a strip of steel or iron G, with its opposite ends formed into eyes Z, receiving within them the eyes m of the blocks F. This metal handle may be covvercd with leather in the ordinary manner.

lVhile I have described specifically the parts in the exact construction shown, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to such, as I am aware that various modifications might be made in some of the parts without departing from the spirit of my in vention. In some cases I may connect the two thumb-levers c with a plate or turn-button, which might be arranged about midway of the length of the casin g A, so that by simply turning a knob or button at this point the bolts may be retracted and freed from the blocks simultaneously.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-- l. The combination, with the easing, of the spring-actuated sliding lock-bolts arranged therein having their outer locking ends of an angular form, the handle, and the blocks or studs carried by said handle and adapted to enter the casing and also having angular apertures to receive the lock-bolts, substantially as specified.

2. The casing having the plates 1) and the plates 6-, and also having the slots in the upper plate, in combination with the sliding bolts having the angular locking ends, the thumb-levers passing through the slots and secured to the bolts, and the blocks or studs having angular apertures and adapted to en ter said casing and be received by the bolts, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a lock casing adapted to be secured to the frame of a valise or the like and carrying spring-actuated sliding lock-bolts beveled at their engaging ends, of a removable handle carrying blocks or studs beveled at their lower ends to engage the beveled ends of the lock-bolts and adapted to enter the casing and receive said lock-bolts, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE l3. EPS'IEIN.

Witnesses:

( L. LO\\'DAI\T, SIMON Ym'rn. 

